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HK Magazine

I grew up in Hong Kong and have spent my whole life here.
I have always wanted to do music. By Form 1 and 2, I was in a band. I thought, “How do I turn my passion for music into a career?”
I suppose I have yuanfen [fate/destiny] with singing contests. I was helping out a friend who entered a contest—I did the piano accompaniment.
When I was involved in the contest, my boss at the time asked me, “Would you be interested in starting your own record company?” I was like, “Of course!”
It was meant to be a summer job, but it ended up being a career.
My friend made it to the finals, but no one taking part in the contest ended up as a singer. I was the only one who entered the industry.
I’ve been in the music industry for 28 years now.
I’m really lucky. I was a production assistant when I first started out, but I was already working on projects with the biggest names—people like Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung.
Everything was an eye-opener. It felt like being a kid at Toys “R” Us.
It was hard work. Those were the pre-internet days, and not every company had a fax machine.
I did a lot of photocopying. I remember spending an entire day in front of the machine.
But when I saw concertgoers having a good time, I felt glad to have been a part of it.
I really enjoy working with George Lam, Coco Lee and [Singapore-based singer] Kit Chan. We do so many media interviews together which touch on more personal issues—I get to understand them that much more.
I find that the four of us have one thing in common: none of us is that sociable. We’re the kind of people who would venture outside in pajamas or a tracksuit.
The image you see of stars in magazines, and how they are normally, is completely different.
There are celebrities who love to party. Anita Mui, Alan Tam—they used to go out with huge groups of people.
At this stage in my career, I feel a bit like a clerk. I’m always at my desk.
I’m either researching for the next project or preparing for my next concert.
I practice piano as well. My desk doubles as my piano—you push it open and there’s a piano underneath.
To me, playing music serves two purposes: I do it to relax, but also for work.
It’s great that I get to combine work and play. I spend a lot less money than other people.
Am I an “unsung hero”? All that matters to me is that I enjoy the process.
There are bound to be people who can resonate with your work. If they like it—great. Everyone loves a compliment. But if not? I’d just move on.
The feedback from “The Voice” is weird to me. I’m just doing my regular job—except it’s in front of the camera.
I have no clue why people started paying attention and discussing it. It’s like I became an accidental celebrity.
I’m a pretty boring guy. I go from home to the studio, then I exercise. That’s about it.
I don’t drink. I don’t go to karaoke. What places are in Lan Kwai Fong now?
I have been followed by the paparazzi before. They probably felt, “Why bother?”
Music is still my biggest interest. Even if it wasn’t my job, I would be involved with it somehow.
I don’t think I would want to be under the spotlight. I don’t like my own voice. It sounds weird when I sing.
I’m not an extreme perfectionist. But I want to do things the way I want them to be done. I keep going towards that direction, and will fight for it until the last minute I have.
It doesn’t matter how much of a perfectionist you are—you have deadlines to meet.
My children are 21 and 23. I don’t think I was a very good father.
It’s not that we’re not close. But I traveled so much, and my working hours were completely different to their schedules. I wish I had more time with them.
I have never thought about leaving Hong Kong. I don’t think I know how to live anywhere else.
True story: this guy was doing a piano performance on stage, had a heart attack and died.
If I had an end like that, that’d be pretty good.


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Chiu Tsang-hei

Magazines

Music producer and composer Chiu Tsang-hei is an integral part of the Cantopop scene. He’s created countless film soundtracks, and written and produced albums and concerts for the likes of Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, and the late Anita Mui. Long a power behind the scenes, he rose to popular fame as a judge on talent show “The Voice.” He tells Andrea Lo about being in the spotlight and why he would never leave Hong Kong.
